Market Meltdowns, Mutinying Pins, and Mild Existential Dread
Saturday was the Community Artist Fair, hosted by the lovely folks at Circular Art Space CIC—the same brilliant mind behind the Gallery Art Bus. This one was held in the yard behind the Crafty Egg Café. It was my first proper outdoor event… complete with a gazebo,
✨step Behind the curtain…✨
Most people just see the display—but wow, it takes a lot to get there! Especially for us neurospicy folk 🧠🔥
This market was a mix of chaos, joy, and exhaustion. I didn’t fully finish setting up in time (shoutout to the 10:40am ongoing before a 10am open 😅), but it was still such a win. I got to show so much of my work, connect with other artists, see familiar faces, and have friends come by to support. That part was magic 💖
BUT—between pre-week prep, packing the car, setting up, packing down, packing and unpacking again… I am very tired. My pins fell over , so now they’re a chaotic jumble instead of neatly sorted. Definitely taking notes for a simpler setup next time so I don’t fall out of love with doing markets. Would love a “press a button and it all pops up” solution, please! 😂
I’m dreaming up ways to make everything easier—especially how to store and show my larger original works. They got a lot of love, but they take so much time to create. Pricing them is tough—how do you put a number on all those hours, layers, and emotion? But if I want to make this sustainable, I have to value my time and creations. ✨
I’m prolific (can’t help it, I have to create), but it’s hard to choose what to bring and what to leave. Ideally, I’d love to welcome people into my studio, show them what I’m most excited about, and share the art in a slower, more connected way. Markets are amazing—but they’re exhausting. Maybe need a roadie to set up.
Massive thanks to those who bought stickers, cards, or grabbed a biz card! 💌 I wonder—does a lot of art overwhelm, or inspire? Either way, I’m happy with my display in the end. Just maybe next time, fewer T-shirt changes required 😅
Grateful for the space, the conversations, the support—and the dogs I got to meet too 🐾💕
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#slowmadeart #supportthearts #authenticart
could do with a helper to set up, everyone else’s looked beautifully balanced but then I guess chaos is my game….messy set up…..
coffee art at crafty egg - a good escape from the over stimulation and the struggle this neurodivergent artist was feeling
Final Thoughts
So… are markets worth it?
I’m not sure. They’re a lot of work. A lot of sweat. A lot of unpredictable energy management. But they can also lead to beautiful conversations, spontaneous moments, and inspiration you don’t find alone in a studio. Plus new people who have never come across your work, connecting and taking some bought art home.
That said, I’m definitely leaning toward focusing more on:
Online sales (where packing orders is tiring but private)
Longer exhibitions (ideally with shared shifts)
Fewer events but simplified set ups at event
Because I love painting. I love sharing it. But I don’t want to end up buried under both artwork and expectations, and doing so for the wrong reasons. .The other artists art and set ups were beautiful!
Still tired. But still creating.
